Exactly the same thing has happened with the trust’s consultation with the residents of Brende Gardens in West Molesey.

There are some small grass areas directly outside some of the houses in Brende Gardens, which are very much appreciated by the residents who live there.

In response to the trust’s consultation, residents drew up a petition asking for these areas to be preserved, and suggesting an alternative location for the parking spaces. As the councillor representing the area, I also wrote to the trust in support of the suggested alternative siting.

I should make it clear that the extra parking spaces are welcomed — we are only talking about the precise siting of a few of them.

The trust has now submitted a planning application to Elmbridge Council on the basis of the original, and unamended, proposals.

The consultation responses have been ignored and no explanation has been given, either in the papers supporting the planning application, or in the response to a number of inquiries I have made to the trust about this.

It appears that this is consultation in name only, with no intention of actually taking notice of any concerns that might be raised as a result.

Last week’s News & Mail also reported the promise of a better future working relationship between Elmbridge Council and Elmbridge Housing Trust, following a critical auditor’s report.

I am calling on both organisations to start by working together to ensure that the legitimate concerns expressed by the residents of Brende Gardens and others who have responded to this consultation are properly addressed.